The need to foster collaboration between academia and the industry, to ensure research and innovations are aligned with real-world needs has been identified as key to the socio-development growth of Ghana.
The Computer Engineering Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has therefore organized the KNUST Technology Week 2024 (TWEEK ‘24) to realise this agenda.
The event, themed: “From the breadboard to boardroom: Transforming Innovations into Sustainable Businesses”, seeks to use theoretical knowledge to practically address societal challenges.
It affords final year students the exposure and platforms to interact and showcase their innovations with industry with the overall objective of transforming them into viable products by existting industries.
The Head of Department of Computer Engineering, Prof. Emmanuel Akowuah said the initiative “aligns with KNUST’s vision of transforming knowledge into impactful solutions for the society”.
Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko added: “This week not only highlights the innovative spirit of our students but also embodies the collaborative essence between industry and academia. We aim to transform ideas into viable businesses. This event is the result of our strong collaboration between academia and industry, showcasing our collective pursuit to incubate ideas and transform them into tangible solutions for real-world problems. We anticipate that this will lead to the development of new products, processes, and startups.”
The Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Professor Emmanuel Frimpong, believes the event provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and help address graduate unemployment.
“As a nation, we are very concerned about the high rate of graduate unemployment,” Professor Frimpong stated. “It is evident that we cannot rely solely on the government to create the necessary jobs for the many graduates we produce each year.”
The three-day event featured panel discussions, presentations, and exhibitions designed in collaboration with industry partners.
David Ofori from NEIP, Henry Sewordor from Telecel Ghana, David Gowu from INNGEN and Kwadwo Baah Agyemang of Ghana Digital Centres Limited all shared their ideas on ways to create a vibrant innovation ecosystem in Ghana.
Franklin Eleblu, Chief Solutions Architect of IT Consultium Limited urged the government to create an enabling environment for technological developments.
“A thriving innovation ecosystem needs a supportive government that creates an enabling environment for businesses to flourish.
“This includes policies that encourage investments that reduce bureaucratic hurdles and protect intellectual property,” he said.